Dislcaimer: What can I say, hmmm I plead the fifth!

A/N: Hello agian! I am here to give you (hot and fresh out the kitchen) another chapter of Trying Again. Now don't mind me if my spelling is bad in some parts (actaully it hasn't been that bad I don't think) I don't have a Beta and I am always in a hurry so sometimes I don't check over my work (I know a bad habit) and I alot of the time don't see my mistakes from staring at the words for so long. Anyways, I think my titles for my chapters are funny, cuz if you where just looking at them you would think that in this chapter Draco betrays Hermione or something like that, but it's not so. Nope, someone else is the bad guy today. Okay, in this chapter; Hermione is packing up and moving out of Beaxbatons for the last time. Hurray! There are goodbyes and all that good stuff. Then on Draco's side he is trying to help Athena with her uh hum "problems" and let me tell ya she's got alot of them. Well I think that's about it; READ!

Chapter 9
How Could He?

"All I Did Was Walk Over, Start All Off, By Shaking Your Hands, That's How It Went, I Had A Smile On My Face, And I Sat Up Straight, Oh Yeah, I Wanted To Know You, I Wanted To Show You, You Don't Know Me, Don't Ignore Me, You Don't Want Me There, You Just Shut Me Out, You Don't Know Me, Don't Ignore Me, If You Had Your Way, You'd Just Shut Me Up, Make Me Go Away, Thats All I Wanted, Oh I Just Don't Understand Why, You Won't Talk To Me, It Hurts, Thats All I Wanted, For Nothing, Don't Talk Words Against Me, I Wanted To Know You, I Wanted To Show You, You Don't Know Me, Don't Ignore Me, You Don't Want Me There, You Just Shut Me Out, You Don't Know Me, Don't Ignore Me, If You Had Your Way, You'd Just Shut Me Up, Make Me Go Away, Make Me Go Away, I Tried To Be, It Didn't Seem Wrong, My Head Aches, Its Been So Long, Write This Song, Thats What It Takes, You Don't Know Me, Don't Ignore Me, You Don't Want Me There, You Just Shut Me Out, You Don't Know Me, Don't Ignore Me, If You Had Your Way, You'd Just Shut Me Up, Make Me Go Away, You Don't Know Me, Don't Ignore Me, You Don't Want Me There, You Just Shut Me Out, You Don't Know Me, Don't Ignore Me, If You Had Your Way, You'd Just Shut Me Out, Make Me Go Away, Make Me Go Away, Make Me Go Away."

~ Avril Lavigne ~ "Unwanted"

Hermione was on the grand staircase of Beaxbatons, and she was hugging a very tearful Amanda. Hermione pushed Amanda lightly away from her and shouldered one of her bags.

"I will be seeing you in two weeks when you come to stay. Don't cry," Hermione said putting her arm around Amanda and dragging her closer to the door.

"Yes, but after that you are going to be going to Hogwarts and I will never see you again," Amanda said misrablely.

"Yes, you will! You can always owl me. It's not like I am about to die, Amanda, I'll still be around and you can come and visit me again next summer", Hermione said pushing the heavy doors open and walking out into the warm sunshine.

"Alright," Amanda sniffled as she dried her eyes on her blue cloak.

"That would be our carriage," Hermione said pulling Amanda to a huge pale green carriage pulled by two beautiful black horses.

As Hermione and Amanda pulled their heavy trunks up the three little golden stairs attached to the carriage Amanda reached up and tapped the gold sign, that read " 6th Years", three times before climbing in.

Hermione snorted at Amanda, who's cheeks turned pink. Hermione had never been the supersticuis type, but Amanda, who had a every good luck charm ever made by man on her charm bracelette, was a big believer in luck.

But Hermione bit her lip. She knew that having all her charms made Amanda feel a little bit safer at night, especailly with Voldemort on the rise to power.

It was not so for Hermione, she wasn't exactly afraid of the impending war between good and evil, but she was scared for her own muggle parents.

Hermione was packing her things into a rack over her head, at the back of the carriage and turned as she heard the voice of the one person she wanted to avoid the most.

"Why hello, Hermie! It seems there are no open seats except the one next you," said Eteine in his slick, snake charmer voice.

"I'm sorry Eteine, but that is Amanda's seat and she will be back in a matter of minutes," Hermione said trying very hard to resist the urge to throw-up.

"Oh, alright. By the way, I forgot to tell you before. Congradulations on the engagment, but I must warn you Hermie, you do not know what you are getting into with the Malfoy family", Eteine said whispering it to Hermione, like it was a big secret.

"What I do, what I want and who I see, is none of your bussiness, Proffesor," Hermione said angrily.

"Why Hermie, I was only warning you," Eteine pouted.

"Thank you, now bye", Hermione said forcefully, while pointing her finger at a seat near the front where Angelina and Jaclynn was sitting, staring at Eteine openely.

"Bye Hermie", Eteine said sadly and made his way up to the front where Angelina and Jaclynn where waiting.

Hermione turned away as she saw Eteine bend down and kiss Jaclynn on her cheek. Amanda strode up the isle just then, a big smirk on her face.

"Hey Mione, guess who Jaclynn and Angelina where talking about," Amanda said breaking out into a smile.

"Umm no clue", Hermione replied nonplus.

"Draco Malfoy", Amanda said happily.

Hermione looked up; a suprised and puzzled look on her face.

"I'm confused. What is so great about this and why can't you stop smiling", Hermione questioned.

"Well okay, remember last year when Draco came bursting through the door of Divination class and carried you out", Amanda said grinning as Hermione blushed.

"I remember, he was supposed to be in Hogsmeade, but somehow he flooed here, and wanted to suprise me, because I was so depressed that month, you know with my baby sis and all", Hermione said shivering slightly as she remembered Draco carrying her in his arms.

"Yeah, that was horrible. But do you remember how Jaclynn and Angelina looked at him and you. I thought that one of them was going to curse you," Amanda said.

"Honestly, I don't understand why Jaclynn hangs out with Angelina anyway. It's not like Jaclynn is that shallow, she's pretty nice when she is on her own," Hermione said pointing to the redhead, who sat nuzzling a feiry orange kitten.

"Yeah. Anyways, back to my story. I was talking to James and he is sitting across from them, and I overheard Angelina saying that Draco had owled her saying how he wants her to come to his mansion for the summer," Amanda said making a face.

"As if he would ever say that. That stupid wench can't keep her grabby paws off of him, and he wants none of it. He even told me that he had met her when she was ten and he hated her then too," Hermione said her eyes dancing with fire at Angelina's nerve.

"Hold on Mione, it gets better. So then Jaclynn was looking quite put out, because she fancys him too. So then I told them that Draco was staying over at your house for the summer and so was I, because he is your faincè", Amanda said laughing.

"You didn't", Hermione said gleefully.

"Yes I did. And get this; they believed me! You should have seen the looks I got then. James blocked Angelina as she tried to stand up, I think she was going to actaully hit me", Amanda said amusedly.

"Amanda, your crazy", Hermione said settling into the seat farthest from the isle.

"I know", Amanda said taking her seat as the magical carriage took off for the muggle world once again.

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"Athena come out right now", Draco called loudly into the prefect bathroom that Athena had herself holed up in.

"No, not until you promise you won't tell anyone", was Athena's muffled reply.

"Come on Athena. I promise, I won't tell a living soul", Draco whined.

"Fine." Athena said exasperatingly.

Athena took off the heavy locking charm she had put on the door and peeked her head out. Upon spotting a very pissed off Draco leaning against the far wall; she smirked.

"What's the matter, Malfoy? No one else to bug," Athena said shoving open the door and striding out.

"No, I just thought you might drown yourself", Draco said boredly.

"Oh really, so either you where worried about me, or you wanted to come and watch the show right?" Athena said sarcastically.

"It was definately the latter. I mean you know how girls killing themselves over guys makes me happy", Draco said shrugging.

"Shut it you asshole", Athena said and started walking down the hall back to her dorms.

"Oh, but I can't", Draco said smugly as he noticed Athena limping slightly on her swollen ankle.

"Draco just shut up and help me to my dorms", Athena said raising her arms helplessly towards Draco, making him grin and her to scowl darkly.

"You know you should really talk to someone about Justin," Draco said quietly as he took one of Athena's arms and supported her weight.

"I know, but what do you think Justin would do if I told", Athena said just as quietly, tears silently gliding down her face.

At this Draco went silent. He knew Athena was taking a risk by even talking to him. If Justin saw her like this, with him, he probably would break her legs.

"I'd beat him up", Draco said flexing the arm that wasn't holding up Athena.

"Sure, I'd love to see that one", Athena said dully.

"I could", Draco said deffensively.

"I know you could, but do you really think I want to see you expelled", Athena said getting a little to emotional.

"Fine, fine. Don't get so touchy about it", Draco said, just before they arrived at the Hufflepuff dorm.

"I bet they make you Head Boy," Athena said suddenly smiling for the first time.

"Oh really, I bet they don't", Draco said smiling back at her as he turned so she could whisper the password.

"Then again Potter most likely will get it, since he saves us every year", Athena said sarcastically, before she limped into the common room.

"So true, where would we be without Saint Potter, and his merry band of knaves", Draco said angrily.

"In a box on the corner", Athena said suddenly, causing her to giggle and hiccup at the same time.

Draco looked at her strange, and quirking one of his eyebrows; left Athena to deal with the pain in her ankle.

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'That God damn little bastard,' Draco ranted inside his head as he headed to the library.

He had just found Ginny Weasley, huddled in a corner sobbing her eyes out. Apperantly; from what Draco gathered between her sobs, her brother was forbidding her from being with Potter.

Draco had told her that Ron was dick and that she didn't have to listen to him. Ginny had smiled a little before running off to find Harry.

Draco strode inside the library and sat at a far table. He needed to catch up on his homework, or he was going to fail all his classes. If only he had Hermione around.

******************************************************************

Hermione hugged and kissed her mum and dad, after she got off the carriage. He still had a three hour drive ahead of them, but Hermione was looking forward to the queit time so she could study just a bit more.

"So how was school", her mum asked grabbing ahold of Hermione's father's hand.

"It's was good, like always", Hermione said eyeing her father who was grabbing something out of one of his pockets.

"Hermione, we bought you a coming home present", he said finally bringing out a long blue box with a huge silver bow on top.

"Oh, what is it", Hermione asked, knowing she wouldn't get an answer.

"We're not telling", Bridget, Hermione's mum, said good-naturedly.

"Just open it", Hermione's dad , Alfred, said shoving the box into Hermione's out-stretched hands.

Hermione slowly pulled the silk ribbon off and opened the box slightly, just to peek inside. Her mother and father both laughed and Hermione pulled the lid off to reveal the prettiest necklace she had ever seen.

It was a heart shaped ruby on a gold chain. Suddenly her mother pulled out two more boxes both blue, and both with sliver ribbons and bows on them.

"We where saving them for your gradution, but we couldn't help ourselves. We decided to give them to you now," Bridget said holding out the two smaller boxes to Hermione.

Hermione took them both, set the larger of the two on her lap, and taking the same precedure as last time opened the small blue box.

Inside was a large gold ring with a lion on it, it's eyes rubies. Hermione slipped the ring on her left ring finger and admired it.

"We know how proud you are of being a Gryffindore", her father explained.

Hermione nodded and picked up the next box. She opened it and found a silver bracelette, that was a mix between daimonds and emaralds. Hermione looked up at her parents at the weird color choices after so many things being red and gold.

"Why does this one not match the other two", Hermione asked holding up the bracelette and letting the light hit the precious stones, making the light dance across the ceiling of the car.

"We liked the colors", Bridget said a superior smirk on her face.

"And not at all because they happen to be the Slytherin house colors, right?" Hermione said supsiciously.

"Yes, of course not. We didn't even think of that", Alfred said winking.

"Sure, sure", Hermione said smiling at her parents.

"We're glad you like them, honey", Bridget said patting Hermione's hand and motioning for her to turn around.

Hermione turned and Bridget picked up the gold necklace, she put it around Hermione's neck and fastened the clasp. Hermione turned back around and smiled down at the heart shaped pendant on her neck.

"Thank you so much", Hermione said hugging her mother, and hugging her father's arm, as he was still driving.

"So Hermione have you any dresses in mind for the opening ball, for the 7th years at Hogwarts", Bridget asked, her eyes lighting up at the thought of more shopping.

"Well, after I owled Dumbledore about me coming back to Hogwarts, and he told me about the ball, I was thinking a nice long red dress, with gold accents maybe, but then I don't know, I am thinking maybe a purple or something else", Hermione said shrugging and leaning back into her seat.

"Purple would be nice with gold trimmings", Alfred said.

"Yes, yes, that would be wonderful, after all purple is a royal color", Bridget said clapping her hands together like a small girl.

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"Well, well if it isn't ferret boy", Ron said coldly as Draco walked past him to go into the last class of the school year, Potions.

Draco spun around and unleashed on Ron what had been pent up all week. In other words, Draco lunged at Ron knocking him down, sat on top of him and began punching him in the face.

Draco was blinded by his rage, and didn't even notice when ther where shouts from Proffesor Snape and the many students who where standing around. Snape walked forward and picked Draco up by his collar.

Snape turned away from the heap on the floor, who was Ronald Weasley and drop Draco hard on his butt. Draco stopped moving and sat very still, except that he was shaking quite terriblely..

"What is the meaning of this Mr. Malfoy", Snape asked pointing to Ron, who was just getting back up on his feet.

"He started it Proffesor," Draco said very shakily.

"Weasley, why did you prevoke Mr. Malfoy", Snape said turning on the Gryffindore.

"But Proffesor, all I did was call him ferret boy and he attacked me", Ron said angrily putting a hand under his bloody nose.

"Be that as it may, twenty points from Gryffindore for fighting Weasley, and be happy it isn't more", Snape said icily.

"B-b-b-ut, Proffesor", Ron stuttered angrily, turning a bright red.

"Ten points, Weasley, and if you don't get into that class room it will be fifty", Snape said raising his voice with each word, until he was shouting it.

Ron hung his head and walked inside the classroom, followed by the rest of the class, leaving Draco alone with Snape.

"Mr. Malfoy, I know that you wouldn't beat up Mr. Weasley simply for calling you a stupid name", Snape said stroking his chin in thought.

"You still hold a grudge against him for what he did to Mrs. Granger", Snape said.

"How did you....", Draco began to say before he was cut off by Snape.

"The whole staff knows, we are arranging it so, next year, Mrs. Granger will have her own room, and she will have no classes with the Gryffindores. We don't want any run-ins if you know what I mean", Snape said chuckling slightly at the horrified look on Draco's face.

"Oh, honestly, Draco. Think of what Mrs. Granger could do to Mr. Weasley, if she was armed with a wand. You and I both know how advanced she is", Snape said smirking at the thought of Ron getting his arse kicked by a girl.

Draco smiled at this thought too and got back to his feet. Snape smiled at him for a second, before ushering him into the awaiting classroom.

A/N: Well that went in it's entirely own direction. Anyways, please review. It have updated two chapters in the last 3 or 4 days, so please please review!!!! I will be updating soon, so don't worry. In the next chapter; Hermione relaxes in her own sort of mansion. Also Draco is back home and being bullied by his father.